Humidifier.



Patented May 10, 1910.

AITORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTUE.

JOHN W. FRIES, OF WINSTON SALEM, NOR'IIH'. CAROLINA.

Patented m 1M), taro.

HUMIDIFIER.

957,197. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1909. Serial No. 532,159.

To all who it may concern:

Be it kno 11 that I, JOHN W. FRIES, a citizen of the/United States, anda resident of the city of lVinston Salem, in the county of Forsyth andState of North Carolina, have invented an Improvement in Humidifiers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to humidifiers and consists ofcertainimprovements which are fully set forth in the following specificationand shown in the accompanying drawings which form part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of humidifierwhich shall, by

mechanical means, transform a stream of water or other fluid into a finevapor or mist and dissipate it into the atmosphere, the

construction of the humidifier. being simple,

inexpensive, durable, and not liable to clog orto get out of repair.

My invention has utility for supplying the requisite humidity to theatmosphere in teX- tile mills, cigar factories and stores and any andall places where an increase in humidity is desired.

My invention consists of a rapidly revolving disk upon which a jet ofliquid is delivered, combined with an annular series of dissipatingblades or obstructions arranged about the periphery of the disk andagainst which the water is mechanically pro ected under centrifugalforce by the rotary action of the diskand by which it is sub-dividedinto a fine spray or vapor'or mist whose density is proportional to thes eed of the disk and impact of the liqui upon the blades, the saidapparatus being provided with means for causing the radial currents ofair caused by the rotating disk to be diverted out of impingement uponthe annular row of dissipating blades whereb Y the said blades aremaintained free from eposits of lint and.the aqueous vapors permitted toleave the blades before being. subjected to such air currents.

More specifically, my invention comprises a case closed at the back andopen at the front with a surrounding gutter and a drainage outlet,combined with a rotating disk, having an annular oblique air shield orflange near its periphery, a motor to rotate the disk at a high rate ofspeed, an annular row. of stationary blades or obstructions shielded bythe closed back of the case and is projected and vaporized orpulverized,

- means for supplying the water or other fluid 5 side elevat on of thesame u on a smaller scale; Fig. 3 1s a sectlonal si e elevation of 4 isan enlarged sectional view of a portion of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the impacting blades and part of the casing; andFig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the means for controlling the fluidsupply and cleansmg 1t.

2 is a circular fixed case with an inwardly directed gutter 3 at-itsperiphery and is open at its front as indicated at 4. The bottom of thegutter 3 terminates in a drainage tube 5 connecting with a waste pipe 8through a funnel shaped casting 6, which latter has vent o enings 7surrounded by an upwardly eXten in circular flange. The waste waterpasses rom the gutter through the pipes 5 and8, and any air, carrieddown by the water, escapes from the vent apertures 7. The funnel 6revents the escape of any water not in the t drm of vapor. The rear andcentral art of the case 2 1s formed with an opening aving a forwardlyextend- .ing conical flange 22.

12 is a bracket to which the case 2 is bolted and by which it may besuspended from a post or other part of a building. This bracket may beof any shape desired. 11 is an electric motor which is bolted to thebracket 12 and has its shaft extending centrally with the opening withinthe flange 22 of the case 2.

A disk 9 is arranged within the case 2 and has a rearwardly extendinghub 10 fitted upon the motor shaft and secured thereto by a set screw orother suitable means. The disk has a thin peripheral edge. The disk 9 isprovided on its front with an annular obliquely arranged flange 24, alittle distance from the peripheral edge of the disk, to deflect theradial'currents of air outward away from the peripheral edge and pastthe annular edge 19 of the casing.

fier. embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a v the same upon the same scaleas Fig. 1; Fig. I

In this way the radial currents in front do not pass into the gutter 3and this is also for other reasons stated hereinafter. This disk 9 ispreferably made of two spun disks of copper, the rear one 21 having itsperipheral edge straight and the forward or front disk 21 having itsperipheral edge bent into the annular oblique flange 2% above referredto. A singleclamping screw 30 may be employed to fasten the disks to thehub 10.

Surrounding the disk 9, and close to it, is an annular cylinder 15having a fiange 16 resting against the case and secured thereto byscrews 18, and also having its forward edge provided with a series ofblades 17, annularly arranged close to and about the periphery of thedisk 9. In practice, I form the cylinder 15 of copper spun into shape,slitted on its edge and the slitted portions twisted into a radialdirection to form blades, as shown. These blades receive the liquidthrown off of the peripheral edge of the disk and subdivide it intovapor. The blades 17 are within the gutter 3 but are directed toward theopen face of the case 2 so that the vapor may pass freely away.Moreover, the blades 17 are considerably within the rim-forming thegutter so as to leave radial space beyond the blades for the passage ofthe vapor or mist and yet permit the collection of the unvaporized waterin the gutter. While I have shown a convenient and inexpensive manner ofmaking the blades, it is to be understood that they may be formed in anyway desired so long as they act as obstructions and receive the impactof the liquid and break it up into vapor or mist. When the vapor isformed, it escapes between the annular flange 24 and the front edge 19of the gutter where it is blown outward with the gentle blast directedby the said annular flange, and this dissipation of the vapor or mistmay be further effected by the air currents forced around the outside ofthe ease as hereinafter described. 1

14 is a pipe for supplying liquid, (usually water) and connects with theback of the case 2 and in communication with a nozzle 13 inside of thecase and discharging upon the rear face of the disk 9 near its center.This nozzle 13 is arranged between the disk and interior back wall ofthe case, as shown a fan or blower 20 which produces a current of airover the periphery of the case 2 to d ssipate the vapor or mist andcarry it out into the atmosphere of the room.

The extent of humidity produced depends upon the amount of watersupplied by the nozzle 13 and the speed of the disk, and hence with agiven speed, the humidity may be varied and regulated by controlling thesupply of the water. To do this I provide a needle or other suitablevalve 23 in the water supply pipe 14: which may be regulated by hand orotherwise as desired. In addition to the valve 23, I may provide aregulator 25 in the form of a drum axially journaled upon the pipe 14and having an over flow aperture 26 discharging into a drainage duct 27,which in turn empties into a hopper 28 connecting with a pipe 29 openinginto the gutter 3 of the case near the bottom. This regulator has atwo-fold function, namely: to act as a reservoir to receive any materialwhich may have clogged the valve 23 and been discharged into it byopening the valve fully to clear it, such material passing off throughthe waste orifice, and otherwise to regulate the pressure by adjustingthe level of the overflow orifice 26 so as to cause the water to bedischarged from the nozzle 13 under more or less head. In practice thesupply of water to the rotating disk 9 should be accurately regulatedand by the employment of this overflow regulator this adjustment andflushing of the valve may be readily done. When the regulator is set,the valve may be opened to flush it and then readjusted without havingto be over-careful since the regulator insures the proper (low.

It will be understood that the water that is delivered to the back ofthe disk 9 is quickly spread out over its surface by the centrifugalaction of the rotating disk and while traveling outward upon the surfaceof the disk, its speed is quickly increased and its thickness diminishedso that an attenuated film of water extends all around the edge of thedisk and is literally mechanically vaporized or pulverized by theviolent impact which takes place by it upon the fixed blades 17. Theless the volume of the water, the thinner is the film and the fineristhe vapor or mist, and vice versa; and likewise, does the humidityvary, but in an inverse ratio, that is to say, with the finer film ofwater the humidity would be less than where the film was thicker. Itwill furthermore be recognized thatthc vaporizing or pulverizing of thewater is performed in a comparatively still atmosphere. as provision ismade, as hereinbefore pointed out, to prevent strong air currents orblasts to be projected upon the vapor at time of its production.

While, for compactness and symmetrical arrangement, I refer to place thedisk and fan upon opposite ends of the motor shaft, I do not confinemyself to that construction as the fan may be otherwise located or maydissipating the vapor or mist, as I do not confine myself to the meansshown. I

While I employ an electric motor 11 for rotating the disk 9 and fan 20,any other ing the said disk and fan may be driven by any other means. I

If desired, the fan may be dispensed with in cases where the vapor ormist is very fine, as the normal currents of air will suffice for itsdissipation.

In modified form, my invention may be employed with the rotating diskrevolving in an plane desired, the only point to be kept in mind .is theproper supply of water to the disk and the drainage of surplus water.For example the machine shown, instead of being supported with the diskrotating in a vertical plane, may be so supported as to have the diskrotating in a horizontal or any other plane, as the high velocit of thedisk will cause the water to proper y distribute itself under anyconditions. It is, of course, important that the waste water may run ofiby gravity and that the supply water shall' be positively delivered tothe disk, but it is immaterial how, these are done.

In using the term vapor as defining the finely subdivided water, I haveused it in a eneral sense, and to include the true gas 0 water as wellasthe fine spray, mist or fog, as aside from the gasified water, thedenser mist or fog will become largely dissipated and absorbed into theair as a vapor and impart to it the'hygrometric condition desired.

In the operation of my improved machine the film of liquid as it leavesthe edge of the disk is thoroughly dissipated by the fixed blades sothat it is converted into a fine vapor or mist and at the same time isshielded during the formation of such vapor or mist against strongdrafts or. currents of air which would cause the formation of largedrops of liquid and its precipitation out of the machine in anobjectionable manner as well as, in textile mills, forcin lint to bedeposited upon and clog the dissipating blades. In my machine the casingis closed at the back so as to prevent any objectionable drafts of airacross the dissipating blades or obstructions, and consequently the vaor or mist which leaves the machine is required to be of such finenessas to be capable of being readil absorbed into the atmosphere to give toit t e desired humidity: The employment of the blower or fan is only tocause the surrounding air to be kept into motion so that,

- as each portion of the air absorbs the desired air will be broughtsuccessively into reasonable distance of the dissipating means to takeup the moisture as fast as it is produced. While employing under someconditions the blower, provision is madeto prevent the said bloweracting upon the vapor or mist while in the act of being formed by u thedisk and the radial obstructions, said motor may be employed; or theshaft carryprotection being secured by placing the fan behind the closedback of the casing in which the said disk and dissipating obstructionsare located! Even though the fan is located in other positions, it isnot permitted to blow upon the vapor or mist at time of its pro-"duction. The function of the fan is simply to put the atmosphereoutside'of the machine into motion, so'that the moist air may beconveyed away and drier air brought in contact with the machine, butwithout disturbing or interfering with the normal action of the vapor ormist producing devices, or upon the vapor or mist itself during, itsproduction. The radial blades 17 by which the water is dissipated, areunobstructed at their radial extremities, so that the vapor or mistafter being produced is not projected against the solid wall, or into apocket which would tend to condense, but the construction is such that,as soon as the vapor or mist is formed, it is free to pass on in aradial direction and also forward without resistance, and in this mannerbe retained -in its vapor or mist form. As the rapidly rotating disk anddischarge of water cause a radial flow of air upon its front face towardthe circular row of dissipating blades and as this air reaches the diskat its center in front and hence 'from the air in the room there wouldbe two objections to its presence, namely the driving of the aqueousvapor or'mist back into the annular chamber 8 and its condensation andthe forcing of floating particles of lint H3011 the dissipating blades,and these objectionable results are avoided by directing the said airoutward from'near .the periphery of the disk by the annular obliqueflange 24 hereinbefore described. In this way the dissipating blades aremaintairied in a clean condition and the va or or mist which leaves themachine may 'e as fine as as the details may be modified withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Havmg now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a humidifier, the-combination of a rotatable disk having itsouterportiou provided with a laterally directed annular flange on oneface, means to rotate the disk at a high velocity, means for deliveringa liquid to the face of the disk opposite to that provided with theannular flange, and an annular row of obstructions arranged about thecircumference of the disk and close to it against which the film ofliquid driven outward from the disk by centrifugal force is projectedand subdivided into vaporor mist and at the same time protected againstoutward air currents from the disk by the ,air guided action of thelaterally projecting flange.

2. In a humidifier, the combination of a rotatable disk having its outerportion provided with a laterally directed annular flange on one face,means to rotate the disk at a high velocity, means for delivering aliquid to the face of the disk opposite to that provided with theannular flange, an annular row of obstructions arranged about thecircumference of the disk and close to it against which the film ofliquid driven outward from the disk by centrifugal force is projectedand subdivided into vapor or mist and at the same time protected againstoutward air currents from the disk by the air guiding action of thelaterally projecting flange, and a shielding case arranged around theannular row of obstructions and provided with an annular flangeextending toward the disk so as to terminate approximately in alinementwith its laterally projecting flange.

3. In a humidifier, the combination of a rotatable disk having its outerportion provided with a laterally directed annular flange on one face,means to rotate the disk at a high velocity, means for delivering aliquid to the face of the disk opposite to that provided with theannular flange, an annular row of obstructions arranged about thecircumference of the disk and close to it against which the film ofliquid driven outward from the disk by centrifugal force is projectedand subdivided into vapor or mist and at the same time protected againstoutward air currents from the disk by the air guiding action of thelaterally projecting flange, a shielded case arranged around the annularrow of obstructions and provided with an annular flange extending towardthe disk so as to terminate approximately in alinement with itslaterally rojecting flange, and means for creating a orced current ofair around the outer edges of the shielding case for carrying away thevapor or mist which escapes from the case.

4. In a humidifier, the combination of a rotatable disk having its outerportion provided with alaterally directed annular flange on one face,means to rotate the disk at a high velocity means for delivering aliquid to the face of the disk op osite to that provided with theannular ange, an annular row of obstructions arranged about thecircumference of the disk and close to it against which the film ofliquid driven outward from the disk by centrifugal force is projectedand subdivided into vapor or mist and at the same time protected againstthe outward air currents from the disk by the air 'uiding action of thelaterally projecting flange and an inclosing case closed on one side andopen on the other in front of the disk and provided with an annulargutter immediately outside of the annular row of obstructions andterminating in an edge inwardly directed to approximate alinement git}?the laterally projected flange of the 5. In a humidifier, thecombination of a motor, a disk secured to one end of the motor shaft andprovided with an annular flange near its periphery having its surfacearranged obliquely to the plane of the disk, means for supplyin liquidto the disk, and an annular row 0 obstructions arranged about theperipheral edge of the disk against which the film of liquid isprojected by the rotating disk.

6. In a humidifier, the combination of a motor, a disk secured to oneend of the motor shaft and provided with an annular flange nearitsperiphery having its surface arranged obliquely to the plane of thedisk, means for sup lying liquid to the disk, an annular row 0obstructions arranged about the peripheral edge of the disk againstwhich the film of liquid is projected by the rotating disk, and a shieldinter osed between the fan and the annular row 0 obstructing parts.

7. In a humidifier, the combination of a motor, a disk secured to oneend of the motor shaft and provided with an annular flange near itsperiphery having its surface arranged obliquely to the plane disk, meansfor supplying liquid to the disk, an annularrow of obstructions arrangedabout the peripheral edge of the disk against which the film of liquidis projected by the rotating disk, and a shield interposed between thefan and the annular row of obstructing parts, said shield extendingcircumferentially around said parts on the outside and having aninwardly directed flange terminating substantially in the vicinity ofthe obliquely arranged flange of the disk.

8. In a humidifier, the combination of a rotating shaft, a rotating disksecured to the shaft, having a peripheral edge in the plane of rotation,a conical part secured to the front of the disk and forming an obliqueannular flange at a short distance from the peripheral edge of the disk,means for su'pplying liquid to the back of the disk, and an annular rowof obstructions arranged about the periphery of the disk fortransforming the film of liquid therefrom into vapor.

9. In a humidifier, the combination of a rotating shaft, a rotating disksecured to the shaft, having a peripheral edge in the plane front of thedisk and forming an oblique annrdar flange at a short distance from theperipheral edge of the disk, means for supplying liquid to the back ofthe disk, an annular row of obstructions arranged about the periphery ofthe disk for transforming the film of liquid therefrom into vapor ormist and a shield around the said periph-' eral edge of the disk and theobstructing devices and terminating in the vicinity of the annularoblique flange portion of the disk.

' 10. In a humidifier, a rotating disk structure comprising two circularsheet metal disks secured one upon the other, one of said disks having aperipheral edge in the plane of rotation, and the other of said diskshaving its peripheral edge bent at an angle to the plane of rotation,combined with an annular row of obstructing devices for transforming thefilm of water into vapor or mist arranged about the edge of the diskinthe plane of rotation, and means for sup-- plying liquid to the disk.

11. In a humidifier, a rotating disk, com bined with an annular row ofobstructions arranged about the periphery of the disk, a shieldsurrounding the said obstructions, means for supplying liquid to thedisk, and means for causing a current of'air to flow in a radialdirection in front of the disk and guided outward away from the diskbefore reaching the peripheral edge thereof.

12. In a humidifier, a rotating disk, combined with an annular row of.obstructions arranged about the periphery of the disk, a shieldsurrounding the said obstructions, means for supplying a liquid to thedisk, means for causing a current of air to flow in a radial directionin front of the disk and guided outward away from the disk beforereaching the peripheral edge thereof, and means for directing a forcedcurrent of air around the outside of the shield to convey the vapor to adistance.

13. In a humidifier, the. combination of means for subdividing a fluidinto vapor or mist, with means for supplying fluid to the humidifierconsisting of a nozzle, a valve for supplying liquid to the nozzle, andan intermediate chamber between the nozzle and valve having an overflow.

14:. In ahumidifier, the combination of means for subdividing a fluidinto vapor or mist, with means for supplying fluid to the humidifierconsisting of a nozzle, a valve for supplying liquid to the nozzle, andan intermediate chamber between the nozzle and valve having an overflowand so construeted that the level of the overflow may be adjusted todifferent heights to vary the pressure of the fluid supplied to thehumidi- 15. In a humidifier, the combination'of means for subdividing afluid into vapor or mist and having a waste passage for the surpluswater not converted into vapor, with means for supplying fluid to thehumidifier consisting of a nozzle, a valve for supplying liquid to thenozzle, an intermediate chamber between the nozzle and valve having anoverflow and so constructed that the level of the overflow may beadjusted to different heights to vary the pressure of the fluid suppliedto the humidifier, and a discharge from the overflow into the wastepassage of the humidifier.

In testimonyofwhieh invention, I hereunto set my hand.

I JOHN W. FRIES. Witnesses:

H. ALLIE WHITE, S. BUTNER.

